Key mechanism for clarinet



April 3, 1968 R. MAZZEO 3,379,086

KEY MECHANISM FOR CLARINET Filed Oct. 19, 1965 United States Patent 0 3,379,086 KEY MECHANISM FOR CLARINET Rosario Mazzeo, Symphony Hall, Boston, Mass. Filed (Jet. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 493,065 8 Claims. (Ql. 84--382) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Upper joint key mechanism for a clarinet including first, second and third finger closing tone holes left hand, an A tone hole, an Ab tone hole, .a thumb tone hole and a register tone hole, A and Ab keys axle supporting means for each of said A and Ab keys running in the same di rection providing a pivotal support for said A key closely adjacent said clarinet and a pivotal support for said Ab key substantially raised from and at the left hand side of the clarinet.

In one form of the invention there is an A and Ab key supporting axle extending from between the Ab tone hole and first finger closing tone hole left hand diagonally and outwardly toward the upper end of the clarinet substantially parallel to the line of said A and Ab tone holes. The Ab key lever mounted on the upper and outer portion of said axle crosses over the longitudinally extending A key lever.

In a second form of the invention a separate A key supporting axle is provided parallel to and overlying the Ab key supporting axle, both extending longitudinally of the clarinet interposed circumferentially between the line of the finger tone holes and a leftwardly off-set A tone hole. Contact elements on the respective A and Ab keys engage when the A key is pressed to raise the Ab key.

The thumb tone hole covering key of the clarinet is provided with a thumb engaging plaque built up to provide a thumb engaging surface a substantial distance above the surface of the clarinet, contoured to the shape of the thumb tip, being sloped inwardly toward the upper end of the clarinet, .to substantially the level of the register key plaque engaging surface when pressed, thereby forming a substantial continuation of the thumb engaging surface of the register key plaque.

The present invention relates to improved key mechanism for cl-arinets, and more particularly to improved key mechanism operable by the forefinger and thumb of the left hand for playing notes at the upper end of the register.

For the normal playin position of the hands on the clarinet the forefinger left hand is located over the first or F finger tone hole while the thumb passing under the instrument may be pressed against the thumb tone hole closing lever. When called upon to play the throat note A, the forefinger, left band, would normally be shifted upwardly along the clarinet a sufiicient distance so that the first joint of the finger is in a position to press the A key, which opens the A tone hole. The A key during its rocking movement strikes against and lifts the Ab key to open the Ab tone hole. When called upon to play Ab the upper portion of the forefinger left hand is pressed downwardly to press the Ab key. In order to press the register key the thumb is extended upwardly to overlie the adjacent register key thumb plaque.

The movements of the forefinger left hand required for playing the A and Ab notes have been found to be somewhat awkward and difiicult of execution especially in rapid sequences. The conventional arrangement of the A and Ab keys wherein the keys are supported to turn on axles arranged at right angles to each other, has the further disadvantage that the movement of the Ab key by the A 3,379,086 Patented Apr. 23, 1968 "ice key is accompanied by a relative sliding movement between these keys producing friction which tends to slow the return movement of the keys under the pressure of their respective springs. The conventional arrangement of the thumb tone hole lever, and register key, also requires some dislocation in the position of the left hand as the thumb is shifted from one to another position in playing these keys.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a novel and improved key mechanism for the A and Ab throat notes which will facilitate the playing of these notes by natural, easily executed, sharply distinguished positive movements of the forefinger left hand.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved construction and arrangement of the A and Ab keys which will provide a more efficient arrangement of the axles relative to the sound producing holes, and of the finger plaques of said keys, so that the contact surfaces of said keys will correspond more accurately to the improved fingering called for by the forefinger left hand.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved construction and arrangement of the thumb tone hole closing key and register key which will facilitate the rapid and precise operation of these keys by the thumb, left hand, without any substantial dislocation in the position of the left hand.

With these and other objects in view the several features of the invention will be readily appreciated by one skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat fragmentary top plan view of the upper joint of a clarinet illustrating particularly the A and Ab key mechanism embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of substantially the upper joint as shown in FIG. 1, illustrating additionally a preferred arrangement of the thumb hole and register keys;

FIG. 3 illustrates the A and Ab key mechanism of FIGS. 1 and 2 looking from the opposite side of the instrument;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on a line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a somewhat fragmentary top plan view of the upper joint of a clarinet illustrating a modified form of A and Ab key mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a view in side elevation of the upper joint as parts shown in FIG. 5, but including the thumb hole and register keys as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive;

FIG. 7 is a section taken on a line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

The invention is shown as embodied in a Boehm type clarinet similar to that illustrated, for example, in the United States patent to Mazzeo No. 2,867,146 for Clarinet dated Jan. 6, 1959. The upper joint of the clarinet only is shown to illustrate improved key mechanism operated by the thumb and forefinger left hand, including particularly improved constructions and arrangements of the A and Ab keys, the thumb hole closing lever and the register key.

Referring to the drawing, the upper joint of a clarinet is indicated at 20 having formed therein the usual F, E, and D tone holes 22, 24, and 26 adapted to be closed by the first, second and third fingers respectively of the left hand. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the A tone hole 28 is aligned with the finger closed F, E, and D tone holes, and the Ab tone hole 30 is diagonally offset to the right side of the clarinet in accordance with the conventional location of said A and Ab tone holes. A novel and improved construction and arrangement of the key mechanism for sounding A and Ab is provided in which an A key 32 and an Ab key 34 are mounted in side-by-side relation to rotate about a common axis which extends diagonally across the upperside of the clarinet parallel to a line connecting the A and Ab tone holes. Pivotal support is provided for said A and Ab keys by means of an axle 36 carried at one end on a post 38 located about half Way between the Ab tone hole and the F finger tone hole and at its other end on a post 40 disposed leftwardly of the A tone hole. The A key 32 is mounted on the right hand or near end of the axle 36 as shown in FIG. 1 and is formed with a finger plaque 42 which extends lengthwise of the clarinet closely adjacent the F finger tone hole 22 forming a broad, rounded forefinger engaging surface, which is pressed by a rolling movement of the forefinger left hand which moves the first joint of the forefinger laterally and downwardly against said plaque surface. The A key 32 is formed with a hole covering pad and lever 44 which extends longitudinally toward the upper end of the instrument. The Ab key is located on the left hand, or further portion of the axle 36 as shown in FIG. 1 and is formed with a finger plaque 46 which is similarly curved and forms a continuation of the A key finger plaque 42 along a diagonal which is parallel to the axle 36 but diverging sharply from the surface of the clarinet to be engaged by the crooked middle joint of the forefinger, left hand, when rolled laterally and downwardly to press position. The Ab key is formed with a hole covering pad and lever 48 which extends transverseiy across the A lever 44, to be engaged and raised by the A lever 44 when the A key 32 is pressed. The A key 32 and Ab key 34 are normally held in hole closing position by tensioning springs 59, 52.

In the embodiment of the invention shown, the portion of the Ab key finger plaque 46 engaged by the upper joint of the forefinger adjacent the palm of the hand is formed to project laterally and upwardly from the surface of the clarinet by an approximate /1 inch, thus making possible the pressing of the Ab key with a minimum dislocation of the hand. A rolling movement of the forefinger accompanied, at the most, by a slight straightening of the forefinger is sufllcient to actuate the Ab key.

In order further to avoid unnecessary movement or deformation of the hand, especially in the playing of rapid passages, an improved construction of the thumb hole closing key and adjacent thumb actuated register key is provided which substantially reduces and simplifies the movement of the thumb required for actuating these keys.

The register key 54 as best shown in FIG. 2. and

FIG. 5, in the present construction is arranged to rock transversely about an axle 56 which extends lengthwise of the clarinet, and which is aligned with the axle 68 for the thumb hole closing key hereinafter described, being provided with a finger plaque 58, which extends lengthwise of the clarinet to a point closely adjacent the thumb tone hole 69, and which is sloped laterally so that the edge engaged by the tip portion of the thumb is projected inwardly toward the surface of the clarinet. The register hole closing pad and lever 62 projects from the opposite side of the axle 56 to cooperate with a register tone hole 64 disposed in the right side of the upper joint adjacent the upper end thereof.

A thumb tone hole closing key 66 is provided pivoted on an axle 63 extending lengthwise of the clarinet and having a tone hole closing pad and overlying thumb engaging plaque 7!), which is built up to a high level, and which is sloped lengthwise of the clarinet toward the adjacent register key thumb plaque 58 and transversely in a direction parallel to the transverse slope of the register key thumb plaque, so that the thumb engaging surface of the register key forms substantially a continuation of the thumb engaging surface of the thumb tone hole closing key. The register key is normally held closed with the thumb engaging plaque thereof raised Cir . 4 1 by a spring 72. The thumb tone hole key 65 is held yieldably in open position by a spring 74.

A principal advantage of the improved thumb tone hole key and register key construction above described, consists in the fact that the left hand, including the thumb, is allowed to assume a more normal position for the hand so that a relatively slight rolling movement only of the thumb is required to operate one or both of the register and the thumb tone hole keys as may be desired, and without any accompanying dislocation of the left hand from its optimum position. The motions required of the thumb are those for which the thumb is designed by nature, and may be accomplished without affecting the movements of the forefinger and adjacent second and third fingers, left hand, in the playing of the notes of the clarinet controlled by these fingers. The use of a substantially built up plaque 7% for the thumb hole closing key 66 has the advantage also of reducing to a minimum extent the pressing movement of the thumb required to close the thumb tone hole of FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 of the drawing illustrate a modified form of the invention in which a modified A key '78 and a modified Ab key fit} are mounted to turn on axles 82 and 84 respectively disposed lengthwise of the clarinet and in overlying relation. In this modification the Ab tone hole 30 occupies the conventional position offset to the right of the aligned F, E, and D finger tone holes. The A tone hole, here designated at 85, is however offset degrees to the left of the aligned F, E and D finger tone holes. The axles 82 and 84 are mounted one above the other on two posts 88 and 90 along a longitudinal line of the clarinet about 45 degrees to the left of the line of the finger tone holes 22, 24 and 2d. The A key 78 consists of a curved arm having a finger plaque 92 immediately adjacent and toward the upper end of the clarinet from the finger F tone hole 22, and a tone hole covering pad and lever 94 normally held closed by a spring 96. The Ab key 88 supported on the outer axle 8 5 is formed with a transversely extending lever arm 93 and pad covering the Ab hole 30, and with a short outward projection carrying a finger plaque in the form of a long stem 1% running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the clarinet. Pressing of the A key 73 causes the Ab key 89 also to be actuated through mechanism which comprises an upward projection 102 from the hub of the A key '78 which engages a downward projection 104 formed on the hub of the Ab key 86.

The construction illustrated in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive, and in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 of the drawing including specifically the A and Ab key mechanism, the thumb hole closing key and the register key, has the advantage that when the left hand is in its optimum position with the fingers rocked or extended slightly toward the lower end of the clarinet for maximum finger agility of the little finger left hand and with the forefinger and thumb extended at a generally 45 angle to-the axis of the clarinet the A and Ab thumb hole covering and register keys can be operated by minimal and entirely natural movements of said forefinger and thumb with a greater degree of speed and precision than heretofore considered possible. Referring to the modification of FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive, the axle 36 and the A and Ab finger plaques for the A and Ab keys mounted thereon are most efficiently placed to be actuated by a slight rolling movement of the forefinger left hand. As previously noted, the location of the A and Ab keys on the same axle which is equally distant from each of the A and Ab tone holes causes the two keys when engaged by the pres-sing of the A key to move as a unit thereby eliminating any frictional resistance which might otherwise obstruct the rapid return of said keys to the normally closed position. The built up thumb plaque of the thumb hole covering key cooperates effectively with the improved A and Ab key mechanism herein set forth, in that the raised thumb engaging surface of the thumb hole covering key is shaped and arranged to engage naturally with tip portion of the thumb for the optimum position of the left hand, so that a simple rolling movement of the thumb suffices to control simultaneously the positions of the thumb hole covering key and the adjacent register key without any appreciable movement of the left hand away from the optimum position above referred to.

It will be understood that, while the illustrated arrangement of the register tone hole and register key in which the register key is mounted to turn on the same longitudinal axis with the thumb hole covering key, is preferred, the register tone hole may be located on the opposite or left side of the clarinet or along the bottom side in accordance with the disclosure of my prior patent above referred to. The modified A and Ab mechanism of FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 similarly provides for the more efficient fingering and operation of the A and Ab keys by the foreginger left hand while the left hand is retained in substantially the optimum position above described, and further operates in combination with the improved register key and thumb hole closing key assembly including the built up thumb plaque for the thumb hole closing key to produce a more efiicient fingering of these keys operated by the forefinger and thumb left hand. In this form of the A and Ab mechanism the rotational axis for both the A and Ab keys has been swung 45 into a plane extending longitudinally of the clarinet. Separate axles 82 and 841 are now provided for the A and Ab keys, the Ab key supporting axle 84 being substantially raised so that the Ab key finger plaque 100 is located to be engaged by the third joint of the forefinger in the manner set forth for the construction of FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive. The finger plaque 92 for the A key 78 is operated in the manner previously set forth by a rolling movement of the first joint of the forefinger left hand.

The axle 84 for the Ab key of the modified construction located at a substantial elevation above the surface of the clarinet, and at the left hand side of the instrument, is employed in combination with a finger plaque of short radius so that a relatively short movement only of the third joint of the forefinger is required to play Ab. The same advantage is obtained with the construction of FIGS. 1 to 4 in which the length of the post All for axle 36 at the left hand side of the clarinet is made substantially higher than the post 38 at the right hand of the clarinet, which is made as short as possible. With respect to the modification of FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 it will be noted that the location of the broken connection provided for the A and Ab keys by the engagement of the projections 1G2 and 104 which extend between the two axles 82 and 84 along a line halfway therebetween, insures a substantially friction-free operation of this mechanism.

The invention having been described what is claimed is:

1. Upper joint key mechanism for a clarinet having aligned first, second and third finger closing tone holes left hand, an A tone hole and an Ab tone hole having, in combination, an A key comprising an A tone hole closing pad and lever and a finger plaque extending adjacent said first finger closing tone hole left hand to be pressed by the first joint of the forefinger left hand, and Ab key comprising an Ab tone hole closing pad and lever, and a finger plaque extending to the left hand side of said clarinet to be pressed by the third joint of the forefinger left hand, and axle supporting means for each of said A and Ab keys running in the same direction providing a pivotal support for said A key closely adjacent the surface of said clarinet, and a pivotal support for said Ab key substantially raised from the surface of the clarinet and to the left hand side of the clarinet thereby providing a press surface of said Ab finger plaque of short radius from said Ab key pivotal support.

2. The combination of an upper joint key mechanism for a clarinet according to claim 1 which includes a thumb tone hole and a thumb tone hole covering key, a register tone hole located toward the upper end of the clarinet from said thumb tone hole, and a register key supported to turn on an axle disposed on the clarinet between the thumb tone hole and the register tone hole and including a plaque with a thumb engaging surface, said thumb tone hole closing key having a thumb engaging plaque built up to provide a thumb engaging surface a substantial distance above the surface of the clarinet, contoured to the shape of the thumb tip, being sloped inwardly toward the upper end of the clarinet, to substantially the level of said register key plaque engaging surface when pressed, thereby forming a substantial continuation of the thumb engaging surface of the register key plaque.

"3. The combination of an upper joint key mechanism for a clarinet according to claim 1, in which said axle supporting means comprises an A and Ab key supporting axle extending from between said Ab tone hole and said first finger closing tone hole left hand diagonally toward the upper end of the said clarinet substantially parallel to the line of said A and Ab tone holes, an A key on said axle comprising, with an A hole covering pad and lover, a finger plaque extending adjacent said first finger closing tone hole left hand to be pressed by the first joint of the forefinger left hand, and an Ab key on said axle at the left hand side of said Ab key comprising, with an Ab tone hole covering pad and lever, a finger plaque to be pressed by an upper joint of the forefinger left hand.

4. Upper joint key mechanism according to claim 3 in which the A tone hole covering pad and lever extends longitudinally of the clarinet, and the Ab tone hole covering ad and lever extends transversely of the clarinet over said A tone hole lever to be engaged and lifted by said A tone hole covering pad and lever when pressed to open, said A and Ab tone hole covering pads and levers being of the same effective length, and mounted on the same axle to form a solid non-sliding one way acting connection therebetween.

5. Upper joint key mechanism for a clarinet according to claim 3, in which the upper left hand end of said axle is substantially raised from and the right hand end of said axle is closely adjacent the surface of the clarinet providing a pivotal support for said Ab key substantially raised and a pivotal support for said A key closely adjacent said surface, and in which said A key finger plaque extends from said axle adjacent said F finger tone hole and longitudinally of said axle to be pressed by a rolling movement of the first joint of said forefinger, left hand, and said Ab key finger plaque extends from said axle adjacent to said A key finger plaque longitudinally of said axle and outwardly to the left hand side of said clarinet to be pressed by a rolling movement of the third joint of said forefinger left hand.

6. Upper joint key mechanism for a clarinet having first, second and third finger closing tone holes, left hand, A and Ab key mechanism including an A tone hole, an Ab tone hole, an A key normally closing said A tone hole, an Ab key normally closing said Ab tone hole, a thumb hole and a thumb hole covering key, a register tone hole and a register key including a register hole closing pad and lever normally closing said register tone hole, and including a thumb plaque having a thumb engaging surface extending closely adjacent said thumb hole, said thumb hole closing key having a thumb plaque built up to provide a thumb engaging surface located a substantial distance above the surface of the clarinet sloped toward the upper end of the clarinet and inwardly to substantially the level of said register key plaque thumb engaging surface, when pressed, and sloped to the right hand side of the clarinet inwardly in the direction of the thumb tip.

7. The combination of an upper joint key mechanism for a clarinet according to claim 1 having an Ab tone hole offset to the right hand side of the clarinet from the line of said finger tone holes, an A tone hole offset to the left hand side of the clarinet from the line of said finger tone holes, an A key supporting axle disposed along a line longitudinally of said clarinet interposed circumferential- 1y between the line of said finger tone holes and said A tone hole, an A key normally biased to closed position mounted on said axle including an A tone hole covering pad and lever, and an A finger plaque closely adjacent said first finger tone hole, to be engaged by the first joint of the forefinger left hand, an Ab key supporting axle overlying said A key supporting axle in spaced parallel relation thereto, Ab key normally biased to closed position mounted on said Ab key supporting axle, including an Ab one hole covering pad and lever, and an Ab finger plaque extending transversely to the left hand side of said clarinet to be engaged by the third joint of the forefinger left hand, and contact elements on said respective A and Ab keys engaged when said A key is pressed to raise said Ab key.

8. Upper joint key mechanism for a clarinet according to claim 7, in which there is provided a register tone hole, and a thumb tone hole, a register key including a register tone hole covering pad and lever, and a plaque having a thumb engaging surface extending closely adjacent said thumb tone hole, and a thumb tone hole closing key including a plaque overlying said thumb tone hole built up to provide a thumb engaging surface raised subtantially above said thumb tone hole sloping upwardly along the clarinet inwardly to form a substantial continuation of the register key plaque thumb engaging surface, and toward the right hand side of the clarinet inwardly.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 878,333 2/1908 Bonn 84382 1,926,489 9/1933 Leblanc 84382 3,204,512 9/1965 Mazzeo 84-382 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

L. FRANKLIN, Assistant Examiner. 

